Story Writing Competition Winner

We are delighted to announce the winner of our Jungle Book Story Writing Competition.

To celebrate our production of The Jungle Book we invited members of the public, schools and our own Youth Theatre members to enter our short story writing competition. The brief was to write a short story, no longer than 500 words, inspired by the theme ‘Jungle’.

The stories that the children entered were of a very high standard, with a huge range of ‘Jungle’ interpretations and wonderful creativity.

We are thrilled to announce the winning story was ‘The Scroll of Eternal Life’ by 11 year old Peyton Veal.

We were so impressed by the entries, we are pleased to be publishing them all below for you to enjoy!

Peyton – The Scroll of Eternal Life

The sweltering Brazilian sun shone down upon the sacred rainforest of the Amazon as Safi’s leather-handled machete sliced a path through the thick greenery of the undergrowth. Her light-coloured clothes and heavy-duty boots were drenched in sweat. Safi’s long, dark braid snaked down her back, limp and a beige sun hat perched on her head, little protection from the harsh sun.

Trickles ran down her forehead, her map drooped in the heat and her compass needle lagged but she carried on.

‘’It should be right here, why isn’t it here?’’ Safi mumbled, questioning the map.

She checked and double checked the coordinates were correct. In anger, she threw the compass onto the ground. CLANG! The sound of metal hitting metal resounded through the jungle. Could this actually be it? Safi dropped to her knees, digging at the cracked earth. Almost immediately, she felt something cold and hard. She knocked on it.

Solid steel. She knocked again and listened closely. Her knock echoed. She felt a carved shape in the metal. With trembling fingers, she brushed away the remains of dirt. This was it. It was the Naya symbol, an eagle over a pyramid. She had uncovered Naywenko-say’s lost vault. Fishing a crowbar from her over-full backpack, Safi began to prise it open. After years of living underground, it was rusty and stiff. However, it was designed to open. After all, it had only been sealed for 1000 years! GROOAANN! She was inside the vault.

Tiptoeing down the creaky spiral staircase, Safi couldn’t see a thing. Patting smooth marble walls in the dark, Safi found an unlit flaming torch. Lighting it with flint, she looked and marvelled at the room, impressed by the forward planning. Suddenly, Safi noticed a thick iron door in the wall. It had to be it. The lost scroll of Naywenko-say, the secret to eternal life. Slowly, Safi brought out a decorated red velvet box with golden trimmings. She put in the code -01000- and the box opened. There lay the key.

~ 15 years ago ~

Furious, Safi threw the lock box onto the floor in rage. She tried every combination. The box flipped and spun, clicking numbers into the combination 01000.

‘’Have I tried that yet?’’ she wondered aloud.

No harm in trying. As if by magic, the box opened. Safi gasped. Trembling like mad, she picked up the solid gold key. And with that, she fainted. On the head of the key was the famous Naya.

~ Present day ~

One small keyhole was cut into the door, perfect for Safi’s key. Tracing the coordinates that led her here, she pushed the key into the lock and turned it. Safi tentatively took it out and pulled the door open. She pulled with all her might and main and the door opened with some blood. Carrying the flaming torch, she examined the dusty parchment. It was in hieroglyphics but Safi, the finder, decoded it with patience. The secret was out. The secret is love.

Jacob

In the depths of the Amazon rainforest, where the air was thick with humidity and the sounds of nature created a symphony of life, a young woman named Elena embarked on a journey that would change her forever. She had always been captivated by the stories of explorers who ventured into the wild, and now, equipped with her backpack and an insatiable curiosity, she was ready to experience the jungle firsthand.

As she stepped off the small boat that had taken her down the winding river, Elena felt a rush of excitement. The vibrant greens of the foliage, the calls of howler monkeys, and the colorful flashes of toucans overhead enveloped her senses. She had come to study the unique flora and fauna of the region, but deep down, she yearned for a connection with the wilderness that was more profound than mere observation.

Her days were filled with exploration. She trekked through dense underbrush, documenting rare plants and taking notes on the behaviors of the animals she encountered. Each night, she set up camp beneath the stars, the sounds of the jungle lulling her to sleep. However, as the days passed, she felt a growing sense of unease. The jungle was alive, but it was also unpredictable.

One afternoon, while following a narrow trail, Elena stumbled upon an ancient ruin hidden beneath the thick foliage. The crumbling stone structures were overtaken by vines, but the intricate carvings told stories of a civilization long gone. As she explored the site, she felt a strange energy, as if the spirits of the past were watching her. Intrigued, she decided to set up camp nearby, hoping to uncover more secrets of this forgotten place.

That night, as she sat by the fire, the jungle came alive with sounds. The hooting of owls, the rustling of leaves, and the distant roar of a jaguar created an atmosphere that was both enchanting and eerie. Suddenly, she heard a soft whisper, almost like a voice carried by the wind. It sent shivers down her spine, but instead of fear, she felt drawn to it.

Curiosity piqued, Elena decided to follow the sound. Armed with her flashlight, she ventured deeper into the jungle, guided by the ethereal whispers. As she moved through the darkness, the air grew cooler, and the dense trees began to part, revealing a hidden glade bathed in moonlight. In the center stood a massive tree, its trunk wide and gnarled, with roots that seemed to reach deep into the earth.

As she approached the tree, the whispers grew louder, swirling around her like a gentle breeze. In that moment, Elena understood that the jungle was not just a collection of trees and animals; it was a living entity, a tapestry of life interwoven with ancient wisdom. She placed her hand on the rough bark, and a surge of energy coursed through her, connecting her to the heartbeat of the jungle.

Elena spent the following days in the glade, learning from the jungle and embracing its lessons. She discovered the importance of balance, the interdependence of all living things, and the power of respect for nature. When it was finally time to leave, she felt a profound transformation within herself. The jungle had not only taught her about its wonders but had also awakened a deeper understanding of her place in the world.

As she boarded the boat to return home, Elena looked back at the dense greenery, knowing she would carry the spirit of the jungle with her forever. The whispers would remain in her heart, a reminder of the connection she had forged with the wild and the lessons learned from the ancient trees.

Rhodri – The Jungle Saver

The jungle is usually a fun place, but not everyone sees it that way. A group called deforestation hated the jungle and everything in it. But don’t worry, this story isn’t all doom and gloom; it’s a tale of good vs. evil, and there’s plenty of good to go around, thanks to…

Kevin. Kevin was a kind-hearted boy who always saw the best in people. He was also a bit of a jungle enthusiast, always talking about it. One time, his dad was ordering Domino’s Pizza to watch Gladiators (Kevin’s second favourite show after David Attenborough’s Asia). Dad scrolled through his phone for ages and found a Jungle Pizza on sale with tiger bread and pepperoni. Kevin couldn’t stop ranting about how it couldn’t be a jungle pizza because pigs don’t live in the jungle and tiger bread isn’t made from real tigers! Now, let’s get to the story because that’s why we’re here, right? That’s a rhetorical question, so don’t answer it.

Kevin was out for a walk in the jungle by himself—he’s thirteen, so he gets some freedom—when he heard a chainsaw. He turned around. Crash! The tree hit the ground, just missing his nose. Men wearing shirts that said “de forest station” were there. “What on earth are you doing?” Kevin shouted.
“Our job,” one of the men replied.
“You’re wrecking animal habitats!”
“And what are you going to do about that?” Kevin was furious but couldn’t find the words to express his feelings, so he stormed off. He had to do something about this, but what?

That night, Kevin stayed up all night inventing the most realistic tiger costume ever, using an image of Shere Khan on his iPad. Oh, that reminds me, the courtyard youth theatre is putting on a performance of The Jungle Book soon. I hope it’s not too late to order tickets. Anyway, where was I… Kevin might have only gotten two hours of sleep last night, but he knew it would be worth it. He looked at the clock; it was six o’clock! If he didn’t move now, he’d be late, so he grabbed his tiger costume, wrote a letter to his dad, and ran out the front door. He soon reached the jungle, put on his tiger costume, and hid behind a tree, waiting; and waiting; and waiting; until he finally heard the deafening sound of the chainsaw. That’s when he jumped out. The men ran away in fear. “We’re never coming back here again,” shrieked one of the men. Kevin’s plan had worked! With a smile on his face, Kevin skipped back home, knowing he had done his bit for the world. Now, why don’t you do yours?

Charlie

In Summer 1998, six people went on a secret expedition to Pluto but never came back. 27 years later three explorers, Bob, Dave and Beatrix had the task of going to Pluto, looking for survivors and bring back specimens. The journey was long but when they got there they saw no spaceship just a great big hole. They went inside the hole and were shocked to see a dense jungle with 70ft plants. They were able to take off their space helmets as there was oxygen. They continued their walk and got ambushed by a 30ft Picher plant with vines as arms. It swallowed them whole. They were terrified but then heard gun shots and out of nowhere someone had freed them. The stranger had a sword on his back and had two shotguns in his pockets.

He was one of the original expedition team and his name was Zach. The team followed Zach to a cave. Inside was a campfire and four more survivors called Tom, Lily, Harold and Max. “But wasn’t there six of you” said Beatrix, “There was” said Max, “Rachel left to take plant samples and never came back” said Lily. “Did she have a camera” asked Bob. “In fact she did” said Harold. Beatrix gasped “if we at least found the camera, potentially we could find out what stopped her from coming back, we have to try” she pleaded.

Early the next morning, they all set off deep into the jungle. Within no time a 60ft lizard charged at them. They all started running but when they looked back it was gone, almost as if it disappeared. As they carried on walking they found a pit which went down at least 1000ft deep. Beatrix thought for a second, she saw a tree with a branch going all the way across to the other side, so Beatrix climbed the tree and used the branch as a bridge to climb over. The others followed, except for Bob who was too nervous.

On the other side was a hut. They crept inside and were amazed to see Rachel! “When I was getting samples, an earthquake split the path and I could not return. I’m sorry” said Rachel. “It’s okay, we’re just happy you’re alright” they said. “But lets go now” continued Dave. “Just one problem, how will we escape, the tree branch is 11ft tall” said Max. “I know how, we can make a human pyramid and pull each other up” said Lily. “Brilliant idea” said Beatrix. And that is what they did. While hiking back, a 100ft creature chased them all the way to the spaceship. They clambered on hastily and flew back to the lab. The scientists were fascinated by the specimens Rachel had collected. It was a successful end to a hard task and they were all happy until the President told them about a planned expedition to Jupiter. “Maybe next year” said Beatrix. And they all laughed.

Sophia – In The Jungle

Once upon a time, there was a cheerful village, and in that village, there was a man called Mowgli. He lived with his wife (Shanti) and his curious son (Zorak) which was a name tied to a jungle panther, representing stealth, power, and agility. They also called him Zorak because Bagheera was a panther and helped Mowgli survive by giving him to the pack of wolves.

All the villagers knew Mowgli’s story off by heart, which some of them found annoying because he read it nearly every day. However, Zorak was fascinated by his story and after Mowgli got their food ready, he would ask his father if he could go to the jungle.

Most of the time, there was no reply though, sometimes he would say, “Man cub you know it’s not safe out there!”
One evening, after the hunters came back with enough food to feed an army, Zorak left his village without his parents knowing!

The pathway to the jungle was narrow and he felt like he would never make it to the jungle without being spotted by mankind, so he tried to go as quickly as possible but when he made it to the top (where his father called it the entrance to the jungle) there was a black panther.

At first, Zorak felt scared of such a beastly creature but soon realised the panther was Bagheera who saved his poor father’s life!
“Are you ….?”, said son of Mowgli.
“Yes, I am Bagheera, and you must be son of Mowgli.”, interrupted the panther.
“You saved my father’s life!” shouted Zorak.
Bagheera looked tense and then said, “shhh”.
The scenery around them was tropical flowers and beautiful plants with birds flying around with great happiness, but Bagheera wasn’t happy and Zorak could tell.
“What’s the matter? I thought Shere Khan was dead ages ago, so my father told me!”, whispered man cub.

“Yes, he is but there is a new tiger in our kingdom, and he is working with the evil, hypnotising snake (Kaa) also he is working with King Loui the king of the monkeys, but you need to go before the tiger (Raanan) finds you because you will be his food.”
Zorak hesitated since he only just arrived but knew he would not survive in the wild.
“I know I won’t be able to survive for long though I will stay with you and after all I am a man!”
“No, you either get your father to come with you or you’re not coming”, demanded Bagheera.

Zorak was most irritated by this idea but in the morning, he asked his father to come which when he told Mowgli he said no but soon changed his mind when he found out about the new tiger (Raanan).

Up the narrow path they went, where Bagheera was still waiting for them. He looked Mowgli in the eye and smiled slightly, they walked until they saw a muscular tiger! How would they defeat this beast?

George – Jungle Master

I sat on a plane and I was drinking my cup of tea. The plane I was on was gliding along the sky smoothly. Suddenly there was a gigantic crash, I saw smoke coming from the spinning propellers. As quick as a flash, the plane bellowed and torpedoed into the jungle below us. I shivered in fear like a snowman. I stood up slowly, we all had to leave one by one. I looked down the aisle and people horrifically injured. I walked out into a wet, rainy and foggy forest.

I heard the breeze whistling through my ears and birds singing to one another. I smelt damp leaves and green moss. I felt the damp wet, soft leaves brushing through my fingers. As I went deeper into the forest I saw animals clinging like Velcro to the trees. I walked a little further and stepped on a crunchy twig. All of a sudden a muscular black panther jumped in front of me.

It looked at me with red evil eyes and growled at us deeply. We all huddled together like a bunch of grapes. We were scared. Suddenly the panther galloped towards us, we ran quickly, we knew we were in trouble. The panther quickly grabbed my friend and used his claws to scratch him fiercely. I swiftly ran away for forty minutes long. It was hard.

I kept running but the panther kept chasing us. As I was running I felt bark scratching my legs and cobwebs dust my eyes. I heard a deep roar and a grizzly bear jumped over me and onto the panther. The bear firmly grabbed the panthers neck and bit down on his head. Then the panther flipped over the bear in frustration. The panther scratched the bears face causing it to bleed. The bear punched the panther angrily and at last the panther ran away. Finally!

Then we hugged the bear, he was so warm. He took us to his cave and we lived happily ever after.

Jack – The Dino Times (Dinner Time)

I was out hunting when I got lost in a wet moist jungle. It was dark and shadows were following my every step. I gave been stranded here for 5 years. I built a wooden hut using the wood from the trees and the palm leaves for the roof. I hunted the animals for food and drank from the stream I thought I would be lonely but I made best friends with a parrot, I named him Garret.

This morning seemed like every other morning, I opened my eyes and yawned the sun was gleaming through the hut window like a golden ray. Me and Garret got up to fetch our breakfast. Fish, My favourite. On my walk down to the river all I could think about was how hungry I was. We could see the river as we walked along the bank.
We were greeted by three enormous dinosaurs. They looked at us and we looked at them they snarled and grunted, I looked to see where Garret was, he had hidden behind me. I turned to walk away but the three humongous beasts began to follow me. I started to run and fell over the tree vines and face planted the dirt I jumped back up and began to throw handfuls of dirt behind me hitting the Sarcosaurus in its long infuriated muzzle. My legs began to sprint through the dusty parched ground.

I found a small clearing and made my exit, I hid behind a tree and used my hunting crossbow. I took my first shot and hit the sarcosaurus in the chest the giant beast fell to the ground with and almighty crash. I took another shot and hit the Spinosaurus right between the eyes he dropped to the floor with a thud. I shot again and git the Tyrannosaurus rex in the side he was still charging at me, I took another shot and hit the beast in the chest. He fell to the ground.

I took a minute to gather my thoughts and get a drink from the river. I cut some meat off each of the dinosaurs and carried it back to my hut, Garret led the way we collected some wood on our way back for the fire which was still smouldering from the night before. I speared the meat and placed it over the fire until it was cooked myself and Garret ate our dino dinner around the fire.

Kaleb

Jerry was a tough man as he wrestled bulls.

Jerry set off to find the new animal in the rain forest. Jerry got to the jungle in a plane. He could see a waterfall he herd the birds tweeting he could smell tropical flowers and felt cold rain and taste a sweet fruit.

He was hearing so many sounds but not the creatures noises echoing through the forest the creatures’ killed 5 of Jerrys friends and the creatures was so fast not a single rain touched it.

All of a suddenly there was a loud roar from behind the bushes Jerry tried to run away but the creatures was so fast and he was so confused by the creatures he wrestled the creatures.

Jerry pushed the creature and finds a bamboo spear and throws it at the creature and it ran away leveeing footprints.

He finds it but it is a female trying to protect her cubs so he leaves the mother and goes home and heal his friends

The end.

Kiyla – The Story of The Jungle

One day there was a 6 year old girl called Ada and she was busy riding on her horse called Snowdrop. She saw a lovely jungle she was far from home and it was getting late at night so she decided to head back home. She was only six so mum, Dad and her dog Buster would be worried.

The next long day came she rode back to the jungle she found that night before. They saw some deer, bears and a tiger. She found a cave she got off her horse she went into the cave. She got her horse she was having a bad feeling about this but she went in after her rider she saw some rocks they were wet.

Suddenly, she heard a low growl and a neigh it wasn’t snowdrop that neighed it was wild horses 6 of them. A colossal dapple grey stallion was getting bit but snowdrop wasn’t going to watch the horse’s die he trotted in and got scratched by the tiger finally he got the herd to safety and his rider to safety.

They rode off as “fast as a cheetah.” The herd fought off the tiger then followed closely behind finally we all got to safety.

The herd gave birth to a foal we lived with them we called them smoke harry Joe Hannah jack and dusty the foal. We found our home we let the herd live in our garden and only explored safe parts of the jungle.

Lucas – The Story of The Jungle Book

One gloomy morning, a red passenger plane was flying over too Seattle in America. While flying over the Amazon rainforest and the engine suddenly caught fire and plummeted into a waterfall in the middle of the rainforest the plane was filling up with water hastily and Kyle noticed that the window was smashed, he realized that the only way out was to climb through the broken window he climbed through and escaped.

Kyle was scared and shocked of his surroundings he heard birds screeching, trees swaying in the wind, he could smell the petrol leaking from the air plane, he saw huge leaves, and he heard jungle animals and thunder in the distance.

Kyle noticed he had no shelter or food and nothing to protect himself he checked the plane for resources and found nothing useful.

He made an axe out of wood and stone and chopped down some trees and found some berries he also found some rocks and a vine from a tree for bow string he made a bow and arrow. He climbed up a tree and waited for a hog to come by he saw some hogs coming and used his bow and hit one in the head and ate its meat he found a monkey and offered him some berries and the monkey became his friend and built a base together.

Kyle and the monkey ruled the jungle together.

William – My Soloman Story

Once there was a very wealthy man. He went for a spaceship ride and on one of the Spacewalk’s. He got lost so he panicked and swam to earth’s atmosphere and fell down at the coast of Solomon Islands.

When he landed there was a cannibal tribe looking at him he thought he was hallucinating so he shrugged it off and saw they were actually there. He started running. They were following him and he saw it, he ended up trusting then and he didn’t end up having any sleep

He shared some resources with them like tortillas and Sandwiches and it was the long lost micasa tribe. He ended up helping them and took them back to mainland with a very big paddle boat, they ended up taking turns in 4’s and there was 16 of them

He got awarded a medal and lots of money for finding them and he got tired And he went for a massive sleep after that and got called Solomon Sam at work.